NDLON

NDLON improves the lives of day laborers in the United States. To this end, NDLON works to unify and strengthens is member organizations to be more strategic and effective in their efforts to develop leadership, mobilize, and organize day laborers in order to protect and expand their civil, labor and human rights. NDLON fosters safer more humane environments for day laborer, both men and women, to earn a living, contribute to society, and integrate into the community.

During his State of the Union address this year, President Obama said, "It is time to heed the call of business leaders, labor leaders, faith leaders, law enforcement—and fix our broken immigration system." In the same speech, the president emphasized his executive power to take action when Congress will not. But Congress is threatening another impasse on immigration. And while Capitol Hill plays politics, Obama refuses to use his executive authority to halt the deportation of more than 1,100 immigrants per day.

Pasadena, California celebrated an important birthday today. The Pasadena Community Job Center completed fourteen years of connecting ready, reliable workers with area homeowners and contractors and serving as a community hub for education and cultural exchange.

The nomination of Jeh Johnson to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security and the controversial departure of his predecessor open the door for pivotal questions about the future of the government's largest agency, especially related to its approach to immigration. Below are several essential questions for Mr. Johnson to answer before his appointment is accepted.

Hurricane Sandy struck fast and furious, and when the waters receded it became clear just how much money and people power it would take to put New York City back together.
As the cleanup began, another reality became clear. Immigrant construction workers, especially day laborers, who became first responders after the hurricane were operating as an underclass in an under-regulated construction industry.

Perhaps never before has there been such a broad coalition and well-formed consensus on the need for inclusion of those who are undocumented in our country. Years of struggle, sacrifice, and unprecedented organizing have built momentum to force immigration onto the national agenda and Congress’ docket. Yet, even though legalization is inevitable, the outcome of its legislation is still and uncertain.

Thanks for this incredible award to KQED and Union Bank. I accept it, not for myself, but for the whole day laborer community.
Day laborers are incredible and an example of the best humanity and best of our community.
They’re people who have brought their families to a new home in order to search for a better future or who had to leave their families behind and work for their well-being, without being present for their children’s first teeth and first steps. Without being by the bedside of their own parents in their last days…
Yet working for those very people whose love keeps them going, building and improving communities.

When disgraced ex-Congressman turned mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner needed an alias to carry on his explicit online chats, he needed something that said: OK, so I’m a cartoon…but I’m a bad boycartoon. And so was born, Carlos Danger.
Last week, Univision’s Satcho Pretto had the unrepentant Weiner on her Despierta América morning show. Ten minutes into the interview, she finally asked what her viewers really wanted to know. “You picked the pseudo name Carlos Danger,” she said. “Why did you pick a Hispanic name?”
Then, working hard to keep from laughing, Pretto continued, “…and how dangerous were you really?”
It’s a question that’s asked regularly of the U.S.-Mexico border. Just how dangerous is it really?

Back in March, a few weeks before the Senate’s Gang of Eight filed their bill, Senator John McCain invited three of the other Senators to join him for a visit to the border. This sub-Gang of four was admiring the border fence separating Nogales, Arizona from Nogales, Sonora when a woman clamored over the top and made a run for it. Sen. McCain sent out a tweet about the exciting international event.
The reactions to the woman climbing up and over the 18-foot high galvanized steel fence varied. They were:
1. That danged fence isn’t high enough. We need to invest more money, on a double fence patrolled by megalodons.2. See? Fences don’t work. Stop wasting money on a border fence that’s nothing more than a symbol.3. I really need to get back to the gym.